Rivers & Roads

     On Sunday there was a big cycling race here in Belgium, the Ronde Van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders)! The race is 256km (~159 miles) all throughout Belgium starting in Bruges and ending in Oudenaarde (the town that Simon was born in!). Lucky for us though the race was going right through Simon's home town, so we went there for the day to catch some of the race! It was really fun to see everyone lining the streets waving flags and cheering all the cyclists on. We rode our bikes over to a steep hill near his house to watch the race, its a little more fun to see them on a hill because they ride by a "little" bit slower and you get to see them really working hard. This race is really famous because Flanders has so many cobble stone streets and hills it makes for a pretty difficult race for the cyclists. Another fun part that I didn't realize until the day before the race but someone I know from high school, Taylor Phinney, who is now a pro cyclists was in the race! He did very well, he was in the break for most of the race which was exciting to see!

In other news, I have gotten a few requests to talk a bit more about my life here with Simon and show a few more pictures of him. He is an illusive character who does not allow his picture to be taken very much, but I will do my best to start including some more shots of him; I snuck in a couple this weekend at the race. But as most people reading this know, this is the first time I have ever lived with a boy let alone a boyfriend! Coming here I was a little nervous about how it was going to be living together, whether we would fight over who does the dishes or who takes out the trash, just stupid roommate quarrels. I was also nervous about the fact that since I am not working and am at the apartment a lot that we might get sick of being around each other so much, I mean everyone needs their alone time. But everything has been going really well! I feel like our living styles are pretty similar, we are not crazy neat freaks but we also don't like things getting too dirty. Simon is a much better cook than I am so he has been making most of our dinners while I do the dishes! During the week Simon goes to work everyday from about 8-6 (his schedule varies a bit) and I usually try to find a coffee shop or somewhere nice to study for a while, explore the city a bit, and then maybe do some laundry or go for a run. Having my class to do has been a really nice way to keep me busy. I am so used to having to go to school and work at the same time, having so much free time is very different for me but I am trying to take advantage of it. It can get a bit lonely not knowing many people here, but I am trying to reach out to some of Simon's friends, I went out with a few of his girl friends last week which was fun. I also think once I find a job and start feeling a bit more stable and permanent here I'll start making some of my own friends. It is hard right now not knowing how long I will be able to stay in Belgium, not knowing if I will be able to find a teaching job or any job and get a working visa. But we are just taking it one day at a time and I am enjoying everyday that I have here!

p.s. I am hoping I fixed the problem with the pictures being so small, you should be able to click on them to enlarge them now! Someday I'll go back and fix the other photos...